Paid $80 for a writing prompt generator app, it gave me a story about a sentient toaster falling in love with a microwave

I impulse bought this app called PromptForge last month because I was stuck on a short story and desperate. The free version gave me basic ideas like 'a detective finds a secret door' but the paid one promised 'unhinged creativity.' Big mistake. It spat out this wild scenario where the toaster had existential dread about burnt crumbs and the microwave was a grumpy artist who only hummed. I laughed for 10 minutes straight, then realized I spent my lunch money on something that writes better comedy than I do. Anyone else sunk cash into a writing tool that just ended up as a joke generator instead of actual inspiration? How do you get past a creative block without blowing $80 on nonsense?

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thomas27523d ago

That part about the toaster having existential dread over burnt crumbs got me. I once paid $40 for a story idea app and it turned my serious fantasy plot into a talking cat who ran a detective agency in space. The cat had a sidekick goldfish who only spoke in movie quotes. I ended up using the goldfish for a completely different story about loneliness, so maybe the nonsense was worth it after all. Still, I could have just asked my nephew for weird ideas for free, he's got plenty.